Work-related activities to improve quality of life in HIV disease

The authors conducted an ethnographic analysis of various ways that persons with AIDS (PWAs) manage their illness in order to improve quality of life. According to Anselm Strauss (1975), illness management involves "work": The activities associated with work change as disease-related symptomatology presents different responses. Strauss' concept of work served as the theoretical orientation for this study. The researchers interviewed the respondents (N = 19) while they were hospitalized for problems related to their diagnosis of AIDS. Analysis was guided by grounded theory. Several categories of management activities emerged. The participants perceived all work-related activities as very important to life in the hospital. They perceived nurses as confederates who were involved in many of the work activities. Quality of life was enhanced when PWAs were able to conduct activities they felt were important and when the healthcare team supported their work.